On a Monday afternoon in Almaty, Kazakhstan, thousands gathered outside the upmarket Royal Tulip hotel in below freezing temperatures. Scattered clouds converged over the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, visible in the far distance from the stately building. In a few hours, the five-star hotel would illuminate with enchanting lights, glowing to contrast the deep blue sky – the preferred setting for displays of opulence common among the city’s elite. Yet those who gathered on December 12, 2016 -- teenagers and young men dressed in sweatpants, hoodies, and other forms of casual attire -- were there for an entirely different purpose: a glimpse of Khabib Nurmagomedov, the UFC’s first Muslim star.
The Eagle, the Bear, and the Fighter
